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Nashoba crushes Marlboro, heads to championship

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
11/06/2012 09:36:34 PM EST

BOLTON -- If Nashoba Regional girls' soccer coach Pam Vaughn was concerned with the lack of quality shots on target from the start of Sunday's quarterfinal, that worry was wiped away in the first quarter of an hour in Tuesday's semifinal with Marlboro.

The top-seeded Chieftains saw five different goal-scorers and pummeled the No. 4 Panthers, 5-1, in a Central Mass. Division 1 girls' soccer semifinal at Chieftain Field.

Right from jump street, Nashoba applied ample pressure on Marlboro keeper Amanda Monfalcone. It wasn't until the seventh minute when the Chieftains dented the onion bag twice within 30 seconds, putting the hosts on the front foot and into the final.

"We started out strong and worked hard at the beginning, which is what we talked about," said Vaughn. "I was glad to see we did what we talked about doing.

"We're psyched about going to the final."

Amber Gustafson, who scored the first goal Sunday, muscled her way into the penalty area before she drilled a left-footer into the roof of the net, putting Nashoba ahead, 1-nil, midway through the seventh minute.

"Amber has a nose for the goal," Vaughn said.

After a timeout, the Chieftains regained possession near the far touchline before Sarah Clopeck crossed to Kim Slade, who waited patiently at the top of the penalty area for the feed.

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The Northeastern-bound senior captain buried her offering with a rocket of a shot, doubling the lead just before the minute expired.

Three minutes later, Gustafson stayed with the ball on the right flank even though a Marlboro player knocked her off-balance. She then fed Clopeck with a nifty cross, and the sophomore tried to nod it into the net, only heading it wide.

In the 12th, a beautiful through-ball to Gustafson had the keeper beat, but it just missed the post.

Then, just after quarter of an hour had elapsed, the footy pinballed inside the area when Clopeck fed Julia Reverdy, who pounded it home to give Nashoba a 3-0 lead.

"She creates a lot and wreaks havoc setting people up," Vaughn said of Clopeck.

Just before the half, Clopeck registered a fourth goal for the hosts, with Brooke Perisho adding the helper.

Reverdy nearly made it five just after the restart, but it wasn't until just after the hour mark that Kelly Poole dented twine to wrap up the Chieftains' scoring.

Sarah Purcell then slipped one home early in the 67th minute to end Nashoba keeper Eileen McGarry's clean sheet.

McGarry recorded four saves in a fairly comfortable night for the senior.

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